Chapter 110: Cao Xuan’s Strength Felt Like an Inescapable Truth

At first, Xing Mengfan had little regard for Cao Xuan. When, like everyone else, he failed to advance, she simply thought, “As expected, he’s been eliminated.” But when she learned that Cao Xuan had made it into the top one hundred, she was quietly taken aback.

Others might not have known, but she understood precisely how he had achieved over eighty consecutive victories—cultivators from Zhongzhou were indeed formidable.

In truth, she had already lost twice; one more defeat would mean no chance at the top one hundred. After that, Cao Xuan began to approach her with an earnestness that was hard to resist.

Though a bit overwhelming, she did need the medicinal pills to heal her injuries.

It must be said, Senior Brother Cao’s craftsmanship was truly exceptional! The pills he concocted were top-tier—free of any poison, potent in effect, and incredibly fast at healing.

Thanks to his innate affinity with flora, Cao Xuan could even assist others in refining these pills—a fact discovered firsthand by Xing Mengfan.

After she suffered severe injuries in earlier rounds, Cao Xuan hurriedly offered her pills. Seeing that she was unable to take them herself, he helped feed them to her.

To his surprise, as the pills entered her throat, he faintly sensed that due to her grievous wounds, her body was slow to absorb and refine the medicine.

Without thinking, he instinctively grasped her “Great Thunder” pulse to help refine the pills.

Cao Xuan swore that at that moment, he was acting out of urgency alone, with no thought of taking advantage.

Xing Mengfan’s expression shifted immediately when he touched her Great Thunder pulse, but upon seeing his solemn face, she recalled the saying, “When ill, one should not reject medicine,” and understood his intentions were pure.

Her regard for him grew, for she genuinely felt Cao Xuan cared for her.

However, in the following times, she began to feel something was amiss—especially now. Even though she was not fond of talking, she whispered softly, “Senior Brother, the pills have been refined, could you please remove your hand?”

If you thought Cao Xuan would feel embarrassed, you would be gravely mistaken.

He wore a serious expression and even seemed eager to explain to the onlookers:

“When a fairy asks you to take your hand away, and you do so, it proves you have a guilty conscience and something to hide!”

So instead of removing his hands, he pressed further.

“Junior Sister Xing, don’t speak. Your injuries are severe, and Senior Brother is helping you heal. Whether Yunzhou can add another top one hundred contender depends on you!”

Xing Mengfan was the type to stop speaking if someone kept ignoring her words.

At this moment, she resigned herself to the situation. After all, the true essence energy flowing from Cao Xuan’s hands was indeed healing her, so she cared little for anything else.

Her master had once said that the body was merely an outer vessel; the Demon Exorcism Peak valued decisive action in battle and did not fuss over such details.

Xing Mengfan accepted her fate—but someone else was displeased.

Just after Li Yao had launched a barrage of talisman attacks to win her match, she came out to find her senior brother holding Junior Sister Xing, his hands clearly not behaving properly.

She sneered coldly, “Junior Brother, what are you doing?”

Cao Xuan remained unfazed upon seeing Li Yao, calmly replying, “Senior Sister, I’m helping Junior Sister Xing heal.”

“Oh? Since when did you learn to heal?”

“Haha, Senior Sister, I know many things!”

Seeing that Cao Xuan made no move to stop, Li Yao’s mouth twitched. She knew her junior brother’s character all too well.

With a beautiful fairy at hand, he would never miss an opportunity to grope.

Instinctively, she said, “Senior Sister, I’m injured too!”

Immediately regretting it, she watched as Cao Xuan swiftly moved and grinned, “Senior Sister, where are you hurt? Let me rub it!”

Though Cao Xuan was a bit of a smooth talker, the true essence energy he transmitted did help repair her injuries, softening her expression.

Though her junior brother had some flaws, perhaps due to his cultivation methods, he was gentle and caring.

Li Yao recalled how over the past year, during late-night cultivation, Cao Xuan always considered her feelings, even calming her true essence when she lost control.

Yet, despite Cao Xuan’s kindness, seeing him “heal” Xing Mengfan stirred a pang of jealousy in her heart.

So she pushed him away firmly, “I’m fine, Junior Brother. Please continue healing Junior Sister Xing!”

With that, she picked up her identification token and returned to the matchmaking.

A flash of light, and Li Yao vanished from the hall, appearing on the suspended arena above.

Facing her was a young woman clad in a pale blue robe with three markings—a late Foundation Establishment stage cultivator from Zhongzhou’s Qingyun Sect. His eyes lit up.

“Junior Sister, sorry, but…”

Before he could finish, the disciple from the lower sect casually pulled out a handful of talismans—fire arms, water arrows, wind blades, entwining vines, beams of light—instantaneously engulfing the arena!

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator from Zhongzhou’s Qingyun Sect was utterly dumbfounded.

“Wait, lady, are you this extravagant?”

With such an onslaught, he might as well concede now!

Just as he thought this, he realized he was unharmed. Looking closely, he found several defensive talismans—diamond shields, protective auras—surrounding him.

In fact, these talismans not only protected him but also restricted his movements.

Swallowing nervously, he stammered, “Uh, Junior Sister… no, Senior Sister, if you want to kill or chop me, just say it… Hey, hey, don’t cry!”

Li Yao knelt there, tears streaming uncontrollably.

He was bewildered. “Senior Sister, if something’s wrong, tell me. I’ll try to help.”

“Shut up and let me be!”

“Alright, Senior Sister, whatever makes you happy!”

Resigned, the Zhongzhou disciple fell silent, knowing from experience never to provoke an emotional female cultivator—such actions ended badly.

Li Yao didn’t fully understand her sudden surge of emotions.

She wasn’t upset simply because Cao Xuan had been overly familiar with Xing Mengfan; that was a minor issue.

When she learned that Cao Xuan had already secured a spot in the top one hundred, a vague feeling stirred within her.

It was a sense of anxious anticipation, fearing both gain and loss.

Cao Xuan’s victories had come so quickly and so smoothly that few questioned them—they seemed natural and inevitable.

Despite Li Yao’s unharmed state and relentless talisman attacks, she had faced two late Foundation Establishment senior sisters from Zhongzhou who effortlessly shattered her talisman formations.

Had they not shown mercy, she might already have been severely injured and eliminated.

Liu Yu, Jin Tiehua, Ye Caixuan—she could only speak with them now because she had been nursing her injuries for several days.

To be honest, she couldn’t guarantee she would make the top one hundred.

So seeing Cao Xuan teasing Xing Mengfan, still the same junior brother she knew, stirred her emotions.

He had not changed, but the thought that he might stay in Zhongzhou while she returned alone to Yunzhou brought a dull ache to her heart.

“Junior Brother, Senior Sister doesn’t want to be separated from you!”